RealGM Basketball

Portland Trail Blazers Wiretap

Rashard Becomes Latest Sonic Injury; Seldom Used Wilkins Steps Up Big

The Sonics had lost their previous five in the Rose Garden, and after Rashard Lewis left the game early things did not look good for the battered Supersonics.

Thankfully, it was the lesser known Sonics who won helped to pull off the win against their rivals in the Northwest, the Portland Trailblazers. Jerome James, a player who, by his reactions, must think he has never committed a legitimate foul in his life, scored 14 points and pulled down 7 rebounds en route to a 96-91 win.

However, there was one other player, a player who rarely sees the court but with Lewis hurt, got the call from Nate McMillan. A player who, through a solid game and a series of fantastically athletic plays, manage to step up for the Sonics and secure the win. Seldom used rookie Damien Wilkins came off the bench to score 21 points on 7 of 10 shooting in a career night. It was Wilkins who made a crucial steal in the final seconds to prevent the Blazers from tying it up at 94, even finishing the play with an emphatic dunk to seal the game. Not bad for a player who only averages 5.8 minutes per game this season.

Via Hunter Johannason/RealGM


Rick Adelman Records Career-Win 700

Rick Adelman got his 700th career victory against his former team in the Kings' 112-93 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night.

Kenny Thomas had 24 points and 9 rebounds in his best game in Sacramento.

``Each time one of these happens, you appreciate it more,'' Adelman said. ``When you look back, you know how much effort went into it, and you know the people around you -- the coaching staff, the players, your own wife and family. It just shows that there's a longevity there, and it's worthwhile to get one of these.''

"I've never seen a situation where so many teams are fighting for the playoffs, and the solution with 14 games to go is to fire the coach,'' Adelman said. ``I feel very fortunate to be in the situation I'm in.''

Via Yahoo!


The Class Of Grant Hill Gets Chris Jent His First Win

It took a bit of class from Grant Hill for the Magic to end their seven-game losing streak. Just 24 hours after Steve Francis kicked a photographer, Hill scored 23 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in a 97-92 win at Portland.

``We are definitely a playoff team,'' said DeShawn Stevenson, who had 16 points. ``Everybody is believing that.''

``This was very special,'' Jent said. ``The team gave me the game ball and it was even more special because Grant Hill gave it to me.''

Jameer Nelson started in place of Francis who has been suspended indefinitely by the NBA.

Via Yahoo!


Trail Blazers Mar 2005 Archive

  • Donn Nelson Content To Stay With The Mavs

    Donn Nelson, son of former Mavericks' coach Don Nelson, has told The Oregonian that it would take a very special situation for him to leave Dallas, as his name has been thrown out as a possiblity to fill Portland's post.

  • Tomjanovich Rules Out Return To The Bench

    Rudy Tomjanovich, who resigned from his job coaching the L.

  • Stoudamire Drug Ruling Stand As An Illegal Search

    A deadlocked jury upheld a lower court’s opinion that Portland Trailblazer Damon Stoudamire’s house was searched illegally three years ago.

  • Rockets Win Sixth In A Row

    Bobby Sura had 21 points for the Rockets, as they improved their record to 38-25, just three games shy of Dallas for the 4th spot in the Western Conference.

  • Bonzi Can’t Help But Chide His Old Team While Reliving What Once Was

    Bonzi Wells, ever the statesman, is reflecting his past and his old team, the Portland Trailblazers.

  • Blazers Activate Anderson

    The Trail Blazers on Monday also activated guard Derek Anderson, who has been sidelined since February 23 with back spasms, from the injured list.

  • Randolph Out For The Remainder Of The Season

    The Blazers' season went from bad to worse after learning Monday that their go-to big-man will sit out the rest of the season.

  • Bulls Surpass Previous High Win Total In Post-Jordan Era

    The 2004-2005 edition of the Chicago Bulls will go down as the team that was able to regain a level of competativeness at the United Center in the post-Jordan era, as they became the first Bulls' team since 1998 surpass 30 wins.

  • Enter George Karl, Nuggets Winners Of Seven Straight

    After last night’s 111-98 victory at Portland, the Denver Nuggets now find themselves in the midst of a 7-game winning streak.

  • Iverson The Latest To Defend Cheeks

    First Jerry Sloan spoke out against Portland’s firing of Maurice Cheeks, saying it made him nervous when an organization takes a players side in an argument.

  • Martin In Doubt Versus Blazers

    Kenyon Martin did some shooting Sunday and left the Nuggets' light practice with an ice bag on the sore left knee that has kept him out of most of the past three games.

  • Van Exel Mulling Retirement

    Nick Van Exel told the Denver Post that he is considering retiring at the end of this season.

  • Sloan Concerned Over Cheeks Firing

    It could have easily been him, which is why he is disturbed over the Cheeks firing.

  • Blazers Fire Cheeks

    The Maurice Cheeks era in Portland has come to an end, as the Blazers are 22-33 this season.

  • Glorious Portland Return For Rasheed

    Returning to an arena where you once played your home games gives you a little something extra each time you do so.